Metal-loaded zeolite remediation of soils contaminated with pandrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

  • Jasna Hrenović Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Odsjek za biologiju http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8513-3993
  • Svjetlana Dekić
  • Jelena Dikić
  • Snježana Kazazić
  • Goran Durn
  • Nevenka Rajić
Keywords: copper, environment, natural zeolite, pathogens, public health, silver

Abstract

Due to the development of resistance to antimicrobial agents, bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii is nowadays a leading cause of nosocomial outbreaks. Clinically relevant A. baumannii outside hospital settings including natural soils affected by human waste represents a public-health risk for humans and animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of metal-loaded zeolites to eliminate viable A. baumannii from artificially contaminated natural soils. A. baumannii isolate was subjected to the activity of natural zeolitised tuff (NZ) and Cu-modified (CuNZ) or Ag-modified zeolite (AgNZ) in wet, slightly acidic terra rossa and slightly alkaline red palaeosol. A. baumannii survived in terra rossa and red palaeosol supplemented with 1 wt% of NZ for seven days and four months, respectively. The addition of 1 wt% of CuNZ to terra rossa and red palaeosol shortened the survival of A. baumannii to three and 14 days, respectively. The addition of 0.1 wt% of AgNZ to both soils resulted in complete removal of viable A. baumannii within 1 h of contact, while the  total native heterotrophic bacterial counts remained high. Since AgNZ is prepared with a simple modification of cost-effective and environmentally friendly natural zeolite, it is a promising material for the remediation of soils contaminated with pandrug-resistant A. baumannii.

Published
2020-04-28
How to Cite
1.
Hrenović J, Dekić S, Dikić J, Kazazić S, Durn G, Rajić N. Metal-loaded zeolite remediation of soils contaminated with pandrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol [Internet]. 2020Apr.28 [cited 2024Mar.28];71(2). Available from: https://arhiv.imi.hr/index.php/arhiv/article/view/1175
Section
Original article

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